Supporting structures for window sashes



Jan. 19, 1960 R. 1.. HUMPHREY SUPPORTING STRUCTURES FOR WINDOW SASHES Filed Nov. 8, 1954 /f INVENTOR Pl @6 Y firm/5W5) FIG. 6.

United States Patent SUPPORTING STRUCTURES FOR WINDOW SASHES Ralph L. Humphrey, Wichita, Kans.

Application November 8, 1954, Serial No. 467,388

2 Claims. (Cl. 20-52.2)

This invention relates to improvements in suporting structures for window sashes. More particularly this invention relates to improvements in supporting structures for window sashes that can minimize the leakage of air past those window sashes.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved supporting structure for window sash that can resist the leakage of air past that window sash.

In the manufacture of window sashes and the supporting and guiding structures therefore, it is desirable to make those sashes and structures as compact as possible. One way of making those supporting and guiding structures compact is to fabricate them as unitary channels which can be disposed at opposite sides of the window openings, and which can receive the opposite edges of the window sashes. Such channels require only a little more space than the edges of the window sashes require; and hence the combinaton of unitary channels and the window sashes held thereby is as compact as possible. However, because those channels are unitary, the window sashes cannot be inserted into and removed from their normal positions by removing and replacing facing plates, as is the case with many window frames. Instead, the window sashes must be jockeyed into assembled relation with the channels by moving the side edges of the window sashes far enough into one of the channels to enable the opposite side edges of those sashes to clear the sides of the other of the channels and then moving the sashes in the opposite direction until those opposite edges are confined by that other channel. This need of jockeying the window sashes makes it impractical to equip those channels with rigid guides that closely confine and guide the side edges of the window sashes. In recognition of this fact, a number of guiding and supporting structures for window sashes have been made which had a fixed guide at one side of the Window opening but which had no guide at the other side of the window opening. Such guiding and supporting structures could not prevent the leakage of considerable quantities of air past the said opposite edges of the Window sashes.

The present invention minimizes the leakage of air past the opposite edges of window sashes by confining those edges in unitary channels with guides that closely confine and guide those opposite edges of the window sashes. One of those guides can be stationary, but the other must be movable in one direction laterally of the window opening to permit the insertion of the side edges of the window sashes and must be movable in the opposite direction to constantly engage and guide those edges of those sashes. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a supporting and guiding structure for window sash that has at least one guide that is movable inwardly to receive the edge of the sash and that is movable outwardly to engage that edge of that sash.

The movable guide provided by the present invention is an elongated plate that can be positioned between the sides of one of the channels of the sash-supporting structure, and it will normally be held and confined by that channel. That guide will coact with those sides of the channel to define a generally vertically-directed, generally U-shaped recess; and the walls of that recess will minimize the leakage of air past the side edges of the window sash. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a supporting structure for window sash that has an elongated plate and a channel which coact to form a generally vertically-directed, generally U-shaped recess-for the side edges of that window sash.

The elongated plate provided by the present invention will preferably have a vertically-directed rib where that plate is used with a plurality of window sashes. That rib will help guide the window sashes and will help keep them parallel to the sides of the channels of the sashsupporting structure. In the absence of-such a rib, one or the other of the window sashes could tilt forwardly or backwardly. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an elongated plate for sash-supporting structures that has a vertically-directed rib.

The sash-supporting structure provided by the present invention includes a channel which has the free edges thereof turned inwardly and then turned toward the web of that channel. Those edges thus are reentrant and serve to define spaced surfaces that extend inwardly from the sides of that channel; and those surfaces will be closer together than the width of the elongated plate. Hence, those edges will act to confine that plate against accidental separation from that channel. Yet, that elongated plate can be rotated about its vertical axis to pass by and be freed from those surfaces. In this way, ready assembly and disassembly of the elongated plate and channel can be attained while that plate is held against accidental separation from'that channel. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a channel for a sash-supporting structure which has the free edges thereof bent inwardly toward each other and then bent toward the web of that channel to form reentrant edges that normally confine an elongated plate.

The elongated plate provided by the present invention is urged toward the vertically directed reentrant edges of the channel by one or more leaf springs; and it will bear against the side edges of the window sashes whenever those sashes are in position within the channel and will bear against the edges of the channel whenever those sashes have been removed. In either event, the U- shaped recess defined by that plate and the channel will minimize air leakage. Furthermore, that spring or springs will have sufficient flexibility to pemiit that plate and the side edges of the window sash to move toward the web of that channel a distance sufi'icient to enable the opposite side edges of that sash to clear the sides of the other channel. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a vertically-directed channel which receives an elongated plate and .that has a spring which urges that plate toward the open side of that channel but which can yield to permit movement of that plate tration only and do not limit the invention and that the invention will be defined by the appended claims.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a reduced scale, front elevational view of a pair of window sashes and of the supporting and guiding structure therefor,

Fig. 2 is a sectional, partially-broken end view of the sash-supporting structure of Fig. 1, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 22 in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a sectional, partially broken, plan view of the supporting structure of Fig. 1, and it is taken along the plane indicated by line 3-3 in Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a broken-away, sectional view in elevation of the supporting structure and sashes of Fig. 1, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 44 in Fig. 3,

-Fig. 5 is a sectional view in elevation of a portion of the supporting structure of Fig. 1, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 5-5 in Fig. 3, and

Fig. 6 is a partially-broken, perspective view of a channel-shaped element that forms the bottom of the sashsupporting structure of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the numeral 10 denotes a facing for the head rail of a guiding and supporting structure for window sashes. That head rail is denoted by the numeral 11, and it is disposed inwardly of the facing 10. A pair of facings 12 are provided for the vertically-directed jambs 13 of the window opening adjacent which the head rail 11 is mounted. These jambs extend to the head rail 11 and the facings 12 for those jambs extend to the facing 10 for the head rail 11. The lower ends of the window jambs 13 extend downwardly to a sill 14. That sill also receives the lower ends of the facings 12. The head rail 11, the jambs 13, the sill 14, and the facings 10 and 12 are usual and standard equipment for many buildings, and they are not, per se, part of the present invention.

A vertically directed U-shaped channel 16 is mounted adjacent the left hand side of the window opening against which the facings 10 and 12 bear. This channel will have its web closely adjacent the facing 12 at the left hand side of that opening and will have its open side directed toward the facing 12 at the opposite side of the window opening. The free edges of the channel 16 are bent inwardly toward each other and are then bent toward the web of that channel to form inwardly directed projections 18. Those projections will have the form of reentrant edges in the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The projections 18 define a distance which is less than the distance defined by the sides of the channel 16.

A vertically directed U-shap'ed channel 24 is mounted adjacent the right hand side of the window opening. The channel 24 has its web 25 adjacent the facing 12 at the right hand side of the window opening. The sides of channel 24 havereentrant edges 34 thereon; the edges 34 being comparable to the edges 18 of channel 16.

Vertically directed stops 22 are secured to the jambs 13, and those stops extend upwardly from the sill 14 to the head rail 11. The channel 16 bears against one of those stops, and the vertically-directed channel 24 bears against the other of those stops. A horizontally directed stop 26 is secured to the head rail 11, and that stop extends between the vertically directed stops 22. The upper ends of the channels 16 and 24 bear against the stop 26.

A channel 28 is mounted adjacent the sill 14, but that channel has its web spaced from the sash 14. This is in contrast to the channels 16 and 24 which have their webs immediately adjacent the facings 12 for the jambs 13. The web of the channel 28 has two spaced ridges which are formed by reentrant bends in that web. One of those ridges is adjacent the inner edges of that channel while the other ridge is at the approximate center line of that channel. The inner face of the channel 28 bears against and is held by a stop 30 which is mounted on the sill 14. The channel 28 coacts with the channels 16 and 24 to define the sides and bottom of the sash-supporting structureprovided by the present invention.

A filler block29, of tubular construction, is disposed within the u-shaped channel 28. That filler block is generally trapezoidal in cross section; having vertical sides that parallel the sides of channel 28, having a top that parallels the web of channel 28, and having an inclined bottom that parallels the sill 14. The filler block 29 is suitably secured to the channel 28 by fasteners 31, shown in the form of self-tapping screws.

The upper part of the sash-supporting structure is defined by a channel 32. That channel has a verticaly directed outer face and a slightly inclined inner face which is arcuate adjacent its lower edge. A reentrant edge 33 is provided at the bottom of that outer face. The ar cuate configuration of the lower edge of the inner face of the channel 32 facilities the movement of the upper edges of a window sash into the space defined by the inner and outer faces of the channel 32. The channel 32 coacts with the channels 16, 24 and 28 to define a substantially continuous guiding and supporting structure. That structure is disposed within the window opening that is defined by the jambs 13, the head rail 11 and the sill 14.

A corner clip 48 is mounted at the junction of the channel 24 and the top channel 32. That corner clip has a generally triangular front face, and it has rearwardly-extending cars 49. In addition, that clip has rearwardly extending tabs 51. One of the cars 49 overlies the web of channel 32, and that car will be dimpled" or staked to the web of the channel 32. The dimpling or staking will suitably maintain the corner clip 48 and the channel 32 in assembled relation. The other car 49, of the corner clip 43 will slip between the web of channel 24 and the right hand facing 12. That other car will be dimpled or staked to the web of channel 24. One of the tabs 51 will overlie part of the free edge of the forward wall of channel 32, while the other tab 51 will overlie part of the free edge of the forward wall of the channel 24. The tabs 51 will provide a clean face for the junction of the free edges of those walls of those channels.

A corner clip 46, similar to the corner clip 48, is mounted at the junction of the top channel 32 and the left hand channel 16. The ears, not shown, of this corner clip will be suitably dimpled or staked to the webs of channels 16 and 32, and the tabs 53 of that corner clip will overlie parts of the free edges of the front walls of channels 16 and 32.

A number of elongated bowed leaf springs 36 are disposed within the channel 24. Fasteners 33, in the form of wood screws, are shown extending through suitably formed openings at the centers of those springs and seat ing in the facing 12 at the right hand side of the window opening. Those screws maintain the springs 36 in assembled relation with the channel 24 and with the facing 12 while permitting the free ends of those springs to flex. However, if desired, the screws 38 can be eliminated; the springs 36 then holding themselves in position within the channel 24 by their frictional engagement with the web 25 and the inwardly directed projections 34 of channel 24. The projections 34 are formed by bending the free edges of the channel 24 inwardly toward each other and then toward the web 25 of that channel. The springs 36 can be turned sideways to facilitate their insertion into the channel 24; and they can thereafter be turned to assume the positions shown.

The projections 18 and 34 at the front of the channels 16 and 24 will overlie the ends of the front wall of channel 28, but the projections 18 and 34 at the rear of the channels 16 and 24 will extend into cut-away portions 56 at the rear of the channel 28. These cut-away portions are formed so they not only accommodate the inwardly directed projections 18 and 34 on the rear walls of channels 16 and 24 but will also permit those inwardly directed projections to move laterally of the longitudinal axis of the channel 28. Cut-away portions 58 are formed in the opposite ends of the channel 28, and those cutaway portions are in register with the ridge which is at the approximate center line of that channel.

A vertically directed channel 60 is disposed within the channel 16, and the web of the channel 60 elfectively closes the open side of the channel 16. The open side of the channel 60 is, in turn, closed by the web of the channel 16. The web of the channel 60 is not as wide as the distance between the walls of channel 16 but is wider than the normal distance between the projections 18. Hence, while channel 60 effectively fills the open side of the channel 16, channel 60 does not interfere with limited lateral movement of the projections 18 on the channel 16. The web of the channel 60 has a vertically directed rib 62 thereon and, in the particular form shown in the drawing, that rib is formed as a reentrant bend in that web. The sides of the channel 60 converge somewhat, as shown in Fig. 3.

An elongated, vertically-directed plate 64 has a vertically-directed rib 66 thereon. In the particular form shown in the drawing, that rib is made as a reentrant bend at the center of the plate 64. The side edges of the plate 64 are bent back on themselves, as shown. The plate 64 is slightly narrower than the space defined by the sides of the channel 24 but is wider than the space defined by the inwardly directed projections 34 on that channel. The rib 66 can fit within the cut-away portion 58 of the channel 28 and it can move relative to that cut-away portion. The rear face of the plate 64 confronts and is engaged by the ends of the bowed springs 36, and those springs will bias that plate toward the inwardly directed projections 34 on the channel 24. However, those springs 'will yield to permit window sash 68 and 70 to move that plate toward the web of the channel 24.

To install the sash-supporting structure provided by the present invention, the channel 16 is set in position at the left hand side of the Window opening with its web adjacent the left hand facing 12. One or two fasteners, in the form of nails or wood screws, are extended through the web of that channel and are seated in that facing. Those fasteners provide an initial securement of channel 16. The channel 24 is then set in position at the right hand side of the window opening with its web adjacent the right hand facing 12. One or two fasteners 61 are extended through the web of channel 24 and seated in the right hand facing 12. The fasteners 61 provide an initial securement of channel 24. The channel 32 is then placed with its web adjacent the facing 10, and with its ends overlying the upper ends of the channels 16 and 24. One or two fasteners 63 are extended through the web of channel 32 and seated in the facing and those fasteners provide an initial securement of that channel.

Thereafter the corner clips 46 and 48 are set in position; the rearwardly extending ears of those clips overlying the webs of the channels 16, 24 and 32. Those ears are then dimpled or staked to those channels. Once this has been done, additional fasteners are extended through the webs of channels 16, 24 and 32 to provide the final securement of those channels to the facings 10 and 12.

Once the channels 16, 24 and 32 have been set and secured in position, and once the corner clips 46 and 48 have been secured in position, the channel 60 can be placed in assembled relation with channel 16. This is done by introducing the converging side walls of channel 60 between the projections 18, and then pushing the web of channel 60 toward the web of channel 16. The inclined side walls of channel 60 will act as inclined planes and will spread the projections 18 apart until after the web of channel 60 has passed inwardly of those projections.

The springs 36 will then be set in position within the channel 16; either being held there by friction or by fasteners 38. Thereafter, the elongated plate 64 will be rotated about its vertical axis so that it is approximately forty-five degrees to the position shown in Fig. 3. At such time, that elongated plate can be slipped between the inwardly directed projections 34 on the channel 24.

Once both of the reentrant side edges of the plate 64 have moved inwardly beyond the inwardly directed projections 34, and the leaf springs 36 will yield to permit such movement, that plate will be rotated until its rear face is parallel to and confronts the web of the channel 24. Subsequently, the force that was used to move the plate 64 into position within the channel 24 can be re leased and the springs 36 can be permitted to move the plate 64 against the inwardly directed projections 34.

The channel 28 will then be disposed in position adjacent the sill 14; and at such time the recesses 58 in the opposite ends of the channel 28 will fit around the rib 62 of channel 60 and the rib 66 on plate 64. The fit between those recesses and those ribs will be loose, as indicated in the drawing. Such a loose fit facilitates ready assembly and also permits unhampered movement of the plate 64.

To install the sash 68 and 70, one or the other of those sashes is moved to the right, as they are viewed in Fig. 1, until the left hand edge of that sash clears the sides of the channel 16. The springs 36 will yield to permit the plate 64 to move inwardly and accommodate this movement of the sash. Thereafter, the force which was used to move that window sash to the right in Fig. 1 is released, and the springs 36 will move that sash to the left until its left hand edge is confined by the sides of the channel 16. A similar operation is used to insert the other sash. When the sash are in the position shown in Fig. 1, the sides of the channel 16 will coact with the rib and web of the channel 69 to define two U-shaped recesses which will fully enclose each of the sashes at their left hand side. The plate 64, and the rib thereon, will coact with the sides of the channel 24 to define U-shaped recesses that will fully confine the right hand edges of the sashes 68 and 74). Hence, the guiding and supporting structure provided by the present invention will fully confine the side edges of the sashes and minimize leakage of air past those side edges. v

The construction shown in the drawing is usable with a plurality of window sashes, but with a slight modification could be used for a single window sash. In such a case, the channels 16 and 24 would be made with narrower webs and the channel 60 and the plate 64 would be made without ribs.

The inwardly directed projections 18 and 34 on the channels 16 and 24 will press inwardly against the faces of the sashes 68 and 70 but will be moved outwardly by any high spots on those sash. Any such movement will be so small that accidental separation of the filler plate 64 from the channel cannot occur. That separation can only occur after the sashes 68 and 70 have been removed and the plate is first moved inwardly against the force of the springs 36 and is then rotated about its vertical axis so it can be removed. Hence, the present construction provides full assurance against accidental separation of the floating filler plate from the sash-guiding channel and yet permits ready separation of that plate and channel whenever such separation is desired. Furthermore, that plate coacts with that channel to minimize the leakage of air past the sides of the window sashes.

The plate 64 is flexible, and it can bend throughout its length. For example, when the lower sash 70 is moved to the right to compress the lower spring 36, the plate 64 will bow slightly; the upper end of that plate tending to remain substantially vertical and the lower end of that plate tending to define an are directed toward the bottom of the web 25 of channel 24. This is desirable since it frees the lower sash but provides as much guidance and confinement for the upper sash as is possible.

The present sash-supporting structure is inexpensive to install, and yet it provides a good seal. Its channels are flexible enough to conform to initially, or subsequently, warped or swollen facings; and the floating filler accommodates appreciable lateral displacements due to warping, swelling or shrinking. Hence the present invention enemas 7 assures easy and full opening of the sash regardless of any warping, swelling or shrinking of the facings 10 and 12.

Whereas a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described in the drawing and accompanying description, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may he made in the form of the invention without afiecting the scope thereof.

What I claim is:

1. A guiding and supporting structure that is positionable adjacent an opening to guide and support a plurality of vertically slidable sash and that comprises a vertically-directed channel at one side of said opening, said channel having the web thereof immediately adjacent said one side of said opening, said channel having the sides thereof directed toward the opposite side of said opening, said sides of said channel having the free edges thereof bent inwardly toward each other to define vertically-directed elongated sash-engaging surfaces, a spring, an elongated vertically-directed plate, said plate being disposed in said channel with the rear face thereof exposed to and in generally parallel relation with said web of said channel and with the front face thereof exposed to said opposite side of said opening, said spring being a leaf spring and being disposed in said channel and being between the web of said channel and said rear face of said plate, and an elongated rib on said front face of said plate that is vertically directed and is intermediate the side edges of said plate, one face of said rib receiving one face of one of said sash, the other face of said rib receiving one face of the other of said sash, said channel being formed so the distance between said sash-engaging surfaces thereof, whenever said channel is unstressed, is less than the combined thicknesses of said rib and of the said one and said other sash, said channel being bendable to permit the insertion between the said sashengaging surfaces thereof of said rib and of said one and said other sash but having restorative forces that hold said sash-engaging surfaces against the other faces of said one and said other sash in sealing relation and that also hold the said one face of said one and said other sash against said rib in sealing relation, said plate being narrower than the space between said sides of said channel but being wider than the distance between said sashengaging surfaces, the side edges of the front face of said plate being urged toward said spaced sash-engaging surfaces by said spring, said spaced sash-engaging surfaces limiting the movement of said plate toward said opposite side of said opening, said rib coacting with the sash-engaging surface at one side of said channel to guide and confine one side of said one sash, said rib coacting with the sash-engaging surface at the other side of said channel to guide and confine one side of said other sash.

2. A guiding and supporting structure that is positionable adjacent an opening to guide and support a plurality of vertically slidable sash and that comprises a verticallydirected channel at one side of said opening, said channel having a web thereof immediately adjacent said one side of said opening, said channel having the sides thereof directed toward the opposite side of said opening, said sides of said channel having the free edges thereof bent inwardly toward each other to define vertically-directed elongated sash engaging surfaces, a wide leaf spring, an elongated vertically-directed plate, said plate being disposed in said channel with the rear face thereof exposed to and in generally parallel relation with said web of said channel and with the front face thereof exposed to said opposite side of said opening, said spring being disposed in said channel and being between the web of said channel and said rear face of said plate, an elongated rib on said front face of the plate that is vertically directed and is intermediate the side edges of said plate, each end of said spring engaging portions of said rear face of said plate on opposite sides of said rib to provide substantially torsion-free biasing of said plate toward said opposite side of said opening, one face of said rib receiving one face of said sash, the other face of said rib receiving one face of the other of said sash, said channel being formed so the distance between said sashengaging' surfaces thereof, whenever said channel is unstressed, is less than the combined thickness of said rib and of the said one sash and said other sash, said channel being bendable to permit the insertion between the said sash-engaging surfaces thereof of said rib and of said one and said other sash but having restorative forces that hold said sash-engaging surfaces against the other faces of said one and said other sash in sealing relation and that also hold the said one face of said one sash and said other sash against said rib in sealing relation, said plate being narrower than the space between said sides of said channel but being wider than the distance between said sash-engaging surfaces, the side edges of the front face of said plate being urged toward said spaced sash-engaging surfaces by said spring, said spaced sash-engaging surfaces limiting the movement of said plate toward said opposite side of said opening, said rib coacting with the sash-engaging surface at one side of said channel to guide and confine one side of said one sash, said rib coacting with the sash-engaging surface at the other side of said channel to guide and confine one side of said other sash, said plate being flexible and being bendable about a horizontal axis intermediate its ends to facilitate the holding of one of said sash within the channel while the other of said sash is being removed from said channel.

Casey Oct. 7, 1952 Serley et al Dec. 15, 1953 

